Floral biology of dry rainforest in north Queensland and a comparison with adjacent savanna woodland

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinah J. Hansman
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Wind Pollination ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Savanna Woodland ◽  
Canopy Trees ◽  
Flower Diameter

In north Queensland, Australia, dry rainforest (deciduous and semi-evergreen vine thicket) occurs as patches within a matrix of savanna woodland. With floral morphology and pollen–ovule ratios as indicators of pollination syndrome and breeding system, the floral biology of dry rainforest was compared with that of adjacent savanna woodland and with rainforest elsewhere. Contingency tables and analysis of variance were used to examine and compare breeding system, flower diameter, floral display and putative pollination syndrome for 156 dry rainforest and 33 savanna woodland taxa. Most (91 of 97) dry rainforest species had pollen–ovule ratios indicating obligate outbreeding. Similar levels of dioecy (21%) and patterns of flowering phenology were observed to those reported for rainforests elsewhere. For dry rainforest canopy trees, flower diameter and morphology indicated pollination by small, generalist insects. Canopy trees tended to flower in the wet season and have low ovule numbers. Taxa assigned to the wind-pollination syndrome had the highest pollen–ovule ratios, suggesting less efficient pollen transfer. Sclerophyll savanna taxa (and some emergent dry rainforest trees) tended to flower in the dry season, have large flowers, high ovule numbers and a high level of floral display.

Pollination and breeding system of a neotropical palm Astrocaryum vulgare in Guyana: a test of the predictability of syndromes

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
TRISHA K. CONSIGLIO ◽  
GODFREY R. BOURNE
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Wind Pollination ◽  
System Study ◽  
Pollination Syndromes ◽  
Insect Pollinators ◽  
Insect Visitors ◽  
Oviposition Sites

A pollination and breeding system study was conducted on a neotropical palm, Astrocaryum vulgare, in Guyana, South America, to better understand its reproductive character evolution, and test the predictability of pollination syndromes. The pollination syndrome approach was used because it integrates characteristics of flowers and their pollinators into an evolutionary framework that allowed experimental testing of predictions. The flowers of A. vulgare displayed traits that were typical of both beetle and wind pollination syndromes. The protogynous inflorescences produced heat and odour during nocturnal anthesis, had numerous stamens with copious, light pollen, and were visited by hordes of beetles that used the inflorescences as feeding, mating and oviposition sites. In contrast, some of these features, such as numerous stamens with copious, light pollen, a high pollen to ovule ratio, and no obvious production of visitor rewards, were also typical of the wind pollination syndrome. However, floral rewards appeared to be tissues of the fleshy staminate petals and pollen that were readily devoured by the beetles. In addition to the Coleoptera, insect visitors to A. vulgare inflorescences included several species of Hymenoptera, Diptera and Orthoptera. However, only Nitidulidae and Curculionidae beetles were effective insect pollinators. Pollination treatments showed that wind pollination was possible, but fruit set was significantly higher for female flowers visited by beetles. Although a pollen/ovule ratio of 50 000:1 and outcrossing index confirmed an outcrossing breeding system, pollination experiments suggested that A. vulgare had the potential for self pollination. Therefore, the breeding system might be best classified as facultatively xenogamous (cross fertilizing). The predictive value of potential pollinator agents for A. vulgare was inadequate because its floral traits were indicative of both cantharophilous and anemophilous pollination syndromes.

Flowering phenology and mimicry of the rattan Calamus castaneus (Arecaceae) in southern Thailand

Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 856-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroonrat Meekijjaroenroj Kidyoo ◽  
Doyle McKey
Keyword(s):  
Staminate Flower ◽  
Pistillate Flower ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Olfactory Cues ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Pollination Success ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Intersexual Difference ◽  
And Function

In the insect-pollinated dioecious rattan Calamus castaneus Griff., nectar and pollen rewards, together with visual and olfactory cues, attract insects to male flowers. Pistillate flowers are apparently rewardless. Here, we aimed to clarify the mechanisms assuring visitation and pollination of female flowers. We studied features of flowering phenology and floral biology that affect pollination success of plants of both sexes. The results show that C. castaneus features a striking system of mimicry, quite different from those studied previously in other dioecious plants. The population of C. castaneus was not significantly male biased and no intersexual difference in number of inflorescences per plant was detected. However, male plants began their blossoming earlier and flowered longer than female plants. There was thus an excess of male floral display. This excess should increase the frequency of insect-mediated transport of pollen from male to female plants. Furthermore, on female plants each pistillate flower is accompanied by a sterile staminate flower that appears to contribute to insect attraction. Quite similar in morphology and function to fertile staminate flowers, they produce similar visual and olfactory cues, but less rewards (nectar but no pollen). C. castaneus thus ensures pollination success by intersexual phenological differences and by floral mimicry.

scholarly journals Pollination and floral biology of Adonis vernalis L. (Ranunculaceae) – a case study of threatened species

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bożena Denisow ◽  
Małgorzata Wrzesień ◽  
Anna Cwener
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Pollen Viability ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Compact Range ◽  
Pollen Vectors ◽  
Pollination Systems

<p>Although the knowledge of pollination systems of rare and threatened species is one of the principles for development of optimal conservation and management strategies, the data about their pollination requirements are scarce or incomplete. Different problems are listed (xerothermic habitat disappearance, overgrowing of patches, plant biology i.e., slow plant growth, problems with seed germination) among the possible causes of <em>Adonis vernalis</em> being threatened, but until now no consideration was given to the flowering biology and pollination.</p><p>The observations of flowering biology of <em>A. vernalis</em> (Ranunculaceae), a clonal species, were conducted in an out-of-compact-range population, in the Lublin Upland, Poland (51°18<em>'</em>55<em>"</em> N, 22°38<em>'</em>21<em>"</em> E), in 2011–2013. The reproductive potential of <em>A. vernalis</em> is related to the population age structure, pollination syndrome, and breeding system. The flowers exhibit incomplete protogyny. The dichogamy function is supported by different (biological, morphological) mechanisms. Stigma receptivity occurred about one day before anthers started shedding self-pollen, and pollen viability was increasing gradually during the flower life-span (66.3% in distal anthers vs. 77.3% in proximal). The decrease in pollen production and in pollen viability coincided with the lowest degree of seed set, irrespective of the pollination treatment. Pollen vectors are necessary for efficient pollination, as the proportion of pistils setting fruits after open pollination (41–82.1%) was significantly higher compared to spontaneous self-pollination (only 5.5–12.3%). The pollination requirements together with pollen/ovule ratio (P/O = 501) indicate a facultative xenogamous breeding system in <em>A. vernalis</em>. Therefore, in the conditions of the global lack of pollinators, improper pollination may weaken the population by leading to a decrease in the proportion of recombinants, and in addition to other factors, may accelerate extinction of small <em>A. vernalis</em> populations.</p>

scholarly journals Floral biology of Salvia stachydifolia, a species visited by bees and birds: connecting sexual phases, nectar dynamics and breeding system to visitors’ behaviour

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila N Barrionuevo ◽  
Santiago Benitez-Vieyra ◽  
Federico Sazatornil
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Flower Opening ◽  
Nectar Volume ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
Hummingbird Pollination ◽  
Pollinator Assemblage ◽  
Bumblebee Pollination ◽  
Pollinator Shift

Abstract Aims Adaptive convergence in floral phenotype among plants sharing a pollinator guild has been acknowledged in the concept of pollination syndrome. However, many plants display traits associated with a given syndrome, but are visited by multiple pollinators. This situation may indicate the beginning of a pollinator shift or may result in a stable situation with adaptations to different pollinators. In Salvia stachydifolia, a previous study suggested that flower shape is optimized to maximize the contribution to pollination of bees and hummingbirds. Here, we studied three additional aspects of its floral biology: sexual phases, nectar dynamics and breeding system, and examined their connection with pollinators’ behavior to explore the presence of adaptations to bee and/or hummingbird pollination. Methods Using a greenhouse population, we applied five pollination treatments to characterize breeding system. To determine sexual phases, we recorded flower opening, anther dehiscence, corolla fall and stigma receptivity. Additionally, we characterized nectar volume and concentration dynamics along the day. Finally, to determine pollinator assemblage and visitation patterns, we performed field observations and recorded pollinators’ behavior. Important findings Salvia stachydifolia was partially protandrous and self-compatible, but open-pollinated plants attained the highest reproductive success, suggesting that reproduction is mainly dependent on pollinator activity. Bombus opifex bumblebees were the most frequent visitors, but Sappho sparganura hummingbirds dominated visits early in the morning and at dusk. Nectar was typical of bumblebee-pollination. We suggest that the bee-hummingbird mixed visitation constitutes an unstable evolutionary situation, making S. stachydifolia an ideal system to understand the ecological circumstances in which pollination shifts occur.

Pollination ecology of Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae) in Central Brazil cerrado vegetation

1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério Gribel ◽  
John D. Hay
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Glossophaga Soricina ◽  
Caryocar Brasiliense ◽  
Anoura Geoffroyi ◽  
Phyllostomus Discolor

ABSTRACTThe floral biology, breeding system and pollination of Caryocar brasiliense were studied in the cerrado vegetation of Central Brazil. The large, yellowish-cream, brush-like flowers are pollinated mainly by glossophagine bats (Glossophaga soricina and Anoura geoffroyi). Three non-glossophagine bats (Phyllostomus discolor, Vampyrops lineatus and Carollia perspicillata) and two short probosisced hawk moths (Erinyis ello and Pseudosphinx tetrio) may also act as occasional pollinators. Caryocar brasiliense is self-compatible although it sets significantly more fruits when crossed than when selfed. The natural fruit set (fruit/flower ratio) and seed set (seed/ovule ratio) are 3.1% and 1.0% respectively. Most of the fruits and seeds are formed through the action of the flower visitors, despite the fact that about 20% of the non-visited flowers receive self pollen on at least one stigma.

Adaptive response of extreme epiphyte Tillandsia species (Bromeliaceae) is demonstrated by different sexual reproduction strategies in the Brazilian Chaco

2019 ◽  
Vol 192 (4) ◽  
pp. 840-854
Author(s):  
Aline C Gomes ◽  
Bruno H S Ferreira ◽  
Camila S Souza ◽  
Luan M M Arakaki ◽  
Camila Aoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Extreme Environment ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Reproduction Strategies ◽  
Pollen Vectors ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Floral Visitors ◽  
Selection For

Abstract Some epiphytes are adapted to extreme environments with the ability to survive drought as a result of their morphological (xeromorphism), anatomical (foliar trichomes or scales) and physiological features. In contrast to vegetative features, they may have diverse sexual reproductive strategies. Here we compared the flowering morphology, floral biology, breeding system and pollinators of Tillandsia duratii, T. loliacea and T. recurvifolia (Bromeliaceae) adapted to an extreme environment, the Brazilian Chaco. Tillandsia duratii and T. recurvifolia flower for 5–6 months, whereas T. loliaceae flowers for 11 months, mainly in the dry season, with low to high flowering overlap between them. Although these species generally show similar flowering morphology, they differ in size, colour, odour and/or floral functionality, suggesting non-sharing of pollinators among them. Bimodal pollination occurs in T. duratii (bees, moths other than hawkmoths) and T. recurvifolia (butterflies, hummingbirds); in T. loliacea, we recorded no floral visitors. Tillandsia recurvifolia is self-incompatible, has flowers which approach herkogamy and protandry, and depends on pollen vectors for fruit set. The other two species show reverse herkogamy, autonomous self-pollination and self-compatibility (mixed breeding system); therefore, pollinators are not required. The disparity in reproductive strategies among the three species suggests the possibility of selection for diverse modes of reproduction.

scholarly journals Flower Colour Polymorphism, Pollination Modes, Breeding System and Gene Flow in Anemone coronaria

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amots Dafni ◽  
Hagai Tzohari ◽  
Rachel Ben-Shlomo ◽  
Nicolas J. Vereecken ◽  
Gidi Ne’eman
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Flower Colour ◽  
Colour Polymorphism ◽  
Blue Flower ◽  
Wind Pollination ◽  
Flower Colour Polymorphism ◽  
Syrphid Flies ◽  
Colour Morphs

The flower colour of Anemone coronaria (Ranunculaceae) is a genetically inherited trait. Such intra-specific flower colour polymorphism might be driven by pollinators, other non-pollinating agents, or by abiotic factors. We investigated the genetic relations among red, white and purple-blue flower colour morphs growing in 10 populations of A. coronaria in Israel, in relation to their breeding system, pollination modes, differential perception by bees and visitors’ behaviour. Flowers of these three morphs differed in their reflectance that could be perceived by bees. Honeybees, solitary bees and flies demonstrated only partial preferences for the different colour morphs. No spontaneous self-pollination was found; however, fruit set under nets, excluding insects but allowing wind pollination, was not significantly lower than that of natural free pollinated flowers, indicating a potential role of wind pollination. Anemone coronaria flowers were visited by various insects, honeybees and Andrena sp. preferred the white and purple-blue morphs, while the syrphid flies preferred the white flowers. Thus, visitor behaviour can only partially explain the evolution or maintenance of the colour polymorphism. No significant genetic differences were found among the populations or colour morphs. Wind pollination, causing random gene flow, may explain why no significant genetic divergence was found among all studied populations and their colour morphs. The existence of monomorphic red populations, along other polymorphic populations, might be explained by linked resistance to aridity and/or grazing.

Changes in plant life-form, pollination syndrome and breeding system at a regional scale promoted by land use intensity

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1319-1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dietmar Moser ◽  
Stefan Dullinger ◽  
Thomas Mang ◽  
Karl Hülber ◽  
Franz Essl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Plant Life Form

Pollination in Australian Orchids: a Critical-Assessment of the Literature 1882-1992

1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
PB Adams ◽  
SD Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Reward System ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Pollination Syndrome ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Reward Systems ◽  
Bee Pollination ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Review Criteria

A century of pollination studies of Australian orchids is reviewed. Descriptions of pollination events and conclusions about pollination status are inadequate in many reports. In this review criteria for establishing 'confirmed', 'probable' and 'suggested' pollinator status are defined and recommended. When applied to 153 published pollination reports there are 24 terrestrial species with 'confirmed' pollinators and a further 47 species with 'probable' pollinators. The major syndromes confirmed are wasp pollination by pseudocopulation (15 species) and the bee pollination syndrome of food mimicry (5 species). Nectar and pollen reward systems operate in a small number of species. Eleven epiphytic species have 'confirmed' pollinators, and four have 'probable' pollinators. Thirteen of the fourteen confirmed reports of epiphyte pollination describe social or solitary bees, mainly of the genus Trigona, apparently attracted by floral display and intense fragrance, which may constitute a chemical reward system. Dendrobium is the main epiphytic genus with confirmed pollinators.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document